Eligibility & Program Details

Florida Tax Credit Scholarship – Private School Option:
For new students, the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship private school option is based on the student’s grade level and county. (Note: The county is the one the student lives in according to their current scholarship application.)

For renewal students who received scholarship funds during the 2019-20 school year, the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship private school option is the higher of either: 1) the student’s grade level and county the students resides in according to their current scholarship application OR 2) the amounts listed below.

• K- 5^th grade —   $6,519
• 6-8^th grade —   $6,815
• 9^th-12^th grade —   $7,111

View the 2020-21 income-based scholarship award chart

The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship private school option can be used towards the following fees, in this order, until all fees are covered OR the student’s maximum scholarship award amount is reached, whichever is less.

1. 1. Tuition
2. 2. Books**
3. 3. Registration
4. 4. Transportation
5. 5. Uniforms**
6. 6. Testing
7. 7. Other

** Applicable for books and uniforms sold by the school, not a third-party vendor.

The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship – Transportation Option: 
With the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship transportation option, families can choose a scholarship to assist with the cost of transportation to a public school other than the one the student is assigned to attend.

The transportation scholarship award amount for the 2020-21 school year is $750.

Families interested in this option should complete the Step Up For Students income-based application. If awarded a scholarship, the family should email FTCTransportation@sufs.org for next steps.

View the 2020-21 Transportation Payment Distribution Schedule

Income Eligibility:

• If a member of the household receives SNAP (food stamps), TANF, or FDPIR, the student may qualify.
• If the household income qualifies for free or reduce-priced lunch, the student may qualify.
• If the household income is at or below the income criteria, the student may qualify.

Priority: If the family income is more than the income criteria, the student, even if eligible, will be placed on a waiting list until all renewal families and new families whose income is under the “priority” table receive funds. View the income priority chart.

Please note: Applications are processed in the order they are received, including all supporting documentation. Scholarships are awarded with a priority given to renewal families followed by new families with the greatest financial need.

Age Eligibility:

• Students entering kindergarten must be 5 on or before Sept. 1.
• Students entering first grade must be 6 on or before Sept. 1.

• A child who is homeless and is entering kindergarten must be 5 on or before Sept. 1.

• A child who is homeless and is entering first grade must be 6 on or before Sept. 1.

There is no income threshold for homeless students to qualify; however the family must provide documentation to validate the child’s homeless status.

Acceptable documentation includes:
A letter/document on letterhead written and signed by the homeless liaison in the public school district to which the child is assigned or by the Owner/Executive Director of the shelter or transitional housing facility of which the family resides.

Documentation must include:

• Child’s name
• Effective date(s)
• Signature of the local educational liaison or the director of the homeless shelter

A student who is/was placed at any time in foster care or out-of-home care during the current OR previous state fiscal year may be eligible (the state fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30).

A child in foster care is defined by the following:

• “Foster care” means care provided a child in a foster family or boarding home, group home, agency boarding home, child care institution, or any combination thereof, as defined by s. 39.01(29).

A child in out-of-home care placement is defined by the following:

• “Out-of-home” means a placement outside of the home of the parents or a parent, as defined by s. 39.01(48).
• “Out-of-Home care” means the placement of a child in licensed and non-licensed settings, arranged and supervised by the department or contracted service provider, outside of the home of the parent, as defined by DCF Rule: 65C-30.001 Definitions. (91).

These students may apply at any time during the school year as long as funds are available. If you are interested in applying for the current school year, please call us at 877-735-7837 and we’ll help you get started. 

If you have questions on whether a child in your care may be eligible, please call our contact center for more information at 877-735-7837.

Required Documents:

Kindergarten or 1st grade	Foster care
Birth certificate or passport.	A copy of foster care placement paperwork. A copy of the current foster care provider license issued by DCF.
Out of home care	Group home
The court order signed by the judge  and/or DCF placement paperwork	The administrator or director should complete the application for the student and submit the required paperwork.